Webber Calls for Formula One Re-Think

Mark Webber has joined the expanding debate over the current state of Formula One and called for a major re-think over the future of the sport.

MONACO: Mark Webber has joined the expanding debate over the current state of Formula One and called for a major re-think over the future of the sport.

The 36-year-old Australian Red Bull driver said F1 needs to reconsider the desire to be an entertainment and think more about reverting back to being a more genuine formula for motor racing.

Alongside his Red Bull teammate, defending triple world champion German Sebastian Vettel, and their team owner, Webber has been one of the most outspoken critics of the level of impact that Pirelli's fast-wearing tyres currently have on the sport.

Talking to reporters, he said: "You ask any F1 driver, yes it's frustrating to sit behind a car for a full grand prix distance. I've been there, a lot of guys have been there and that's not much fun. But also my race in Shanghai 2011 -- I'm arriving on guys like Fernando (Alonso) and Lewis (Hamilton), I'm creaming through them at about 2.5s per lap because I'd saved tyres from qualifying. That's not right either."

"Lewis Hamilton getting lapped (at the Spanish Grand Prix), having been with Alonso until lap five or six, that's not right for me. So it's gone a long way out the other way. Barcelona is a tough circuit, but it's a racing track, these are Formula One cars. The writing was on the wall in winter testing. We have to drop down a little bit to more of the racing side of things."

"Fernando passing Kimi for the lead of the Spanish Grand Prix wasn't much of an event... Sebastian and Fernando racing each other in Shanghai wasn't either. We have to find a better balance for the fans and the drivers, because at the moment I think we're too far the other way."